Atmospheric PhenomenaLightning |
Is static electricity similar to lightning? |
Yes. When you generate a static charge by, for example, wearing wool socks and rubbing your feet on a shag carpet, and then touching a piece of furniture or a person, the spark that is released is just like a miniature bolt of lightning. Static electricity charges can generate 40,000 volts or more, which as some people know can be damaging to electronics, such as computers.